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Vasilisy has been quiet throughout, following my lead, but I hear him mutter under his breath when the smell hits him.

I wish I could say it is like those movies I watched when I was younger, all dramatic and shit.

The person died, their eyes slowly closing as a peaceful expression crossed their faces.

Instead, death is just an end, and not a pretty one.

It's not dignified and peaceful, especially like this. Your body shuts down, expelling the waste, and it’s painful, their eyes hold their terror of their own demise, and they will be frozen that way forever.

I notice their clothes have been removed too, not even death allows them peace.

That’s Ivar’s way. Even now they are humiliated and paraded about, smeared in shit and blood.

Another reminder. When I spot what they have done to their genitals, I have to hold in the bile that wants to rise from my stomach.

Gritting my teeth and pulling my lips shut tight, I try to look away, but when I do I meet his eyes and see the delight there. He was waiting for my reaction.

His eyes meet mine as he touches her. The ferals were dragged away by some Berserkers while I was tied to the wall outside, my hands chained to the top, and my feet spread and chained to a boulder next to it.

The freezing wind up here chills me to my bone, even as the sun shines down on us.

I don’t want to look, I don’t want to see but I know if I don’t, Ivar will only make it worse, do something worse.

So my eyes lock with his, Ivar’s pet torturer, as he plays with the remnants of Petal’s…

no I can't think of her like that otherwise my mind will break, her. ..her body.

Crouched on the other side of her body so I can see him clearly, and him me, he drops his hand into the hole the ferals made in her stomach and rummages around.

Bile rises and I have to swallow repeatedly, I will not be sick.

I will not be sick. I repeat it until the need disappears.

I try to think of other things but when his hand raises from her half-eaten body, covered in blood and other things, I can’t keep the horrified gasp from escaping.

He grins, knowing he is getting to me. When his hand opens, I see the lump of a red bloody organ and my face pales.

He raises it slowly, and still with his eyes locked on me, takes a bite.

Blood smears around his face and when the scent of it hits me, I can’t keep the contents of my stomach down.

He laughs hard, throwing his head back, showing me the half-eaten organ and the blood coating his teeth.

I retch again and my vomit splashes down the front of my clothing as tears are squeezed out of the corners of my eyes.

“Do you like my handiwork? I think they are some of my best yet.” His voice brings me back and I meet his eyes. We stare each other down as the door behind him opens.

My eyes flick up automatically and my heart stops at the man who stands there.

“Hello, pet.” Ivar’s smile is wide and cheerful as he looks at me, his crown sitting on his head and his wide, scar-filled chest covered in weapons.

His tight leather pants are the ones that he always wears, and his hair has grown.

After all these years, I am finally facing my demons.

The man who twisted and carved me, Ivar The Destroyer.

I can’t help but drop my hand to grab my blade and he sees me do it, his head throws back and that familiar laugh booms out, running across my skin and raising memories.

“Now, now, pet. Is that any way to greet me? Why don’t you come and have a seat, it seems we have things to talk about and everyone is waiting.

” He steps aside, and I glance around him to see Major, Nan, Reeves, and Priest all sitting ramrod straight in their seats around the table.

Doc stands at the back, as do some of the other Paradise guards.

Berserkers are everywhere, covering every surface, some even asleep on the floor and it’s obvious why none of the leaders tried to make a break for it.

They are quite literally trapped with the devil.

Under the careful scrutiny of everyone, I make my way inside and to the chair left free for me, the one to the left of the head of the table, where Major sat last time.

I don’t want to sit down, I don’t want to be at that disadvantage, but I know I have to.

Gritting my teeth, I sit slowly, at the edge of my chair, ready to move if anything happens.

I jump when a hand lands on my leg under the table and squeezes.

Looking to my right, I nod at Major. He looks like he doesn’t have a worry in the world even though one of his eyes is black and blue, and his lip is split.

His hair is out of place and his suit ripped, yet he sits there like he is still the leader here and I respect the hell out of him for it.

I watch as Vasilisy gets manhandled to stand with his back to the wall next to Doc.

I nod at him and he relaxes slightly before glaring at the two Berserkers tugging him.

They back away quickly which makes him grin.

I run my eyes over the rest of the leaders.

Priest’s face is blank, but I can see the quiet fury burning in his eyes.

Reeves looks pissed, there is no other word for it, his face is an ugly purple shade and his nostrils are flaring as he glares at every Berserker in here.

I look at Nan last. She looks calm, way too calm, the type where she usually just starts shooting people.

Her nose is obviously broken, and dried blood has dripped down her face, and onto her pearls, then finally to stain her pink cardigan.

One of her eyes is sealing shut with bruising and I can’t see her handy shotgun anywhere.

A Berserker stands nearly straight behind her, his face covered in blood with a massive cut marring his neck, his eyes are locked on the back of Nan’s head with a searing intensity and I am betting she did that to him, you gotta love her.

Ivar walks around the table, strutting as everyone watches him. When he reaches the free chair at the head of the table, he looks around before dropping into the seat, casually and leaning back, watching us.

“A little birdie told me a Summit had been called, but that can’t be correct or I would have been invited.

” He points out, grabbing some food from a plate, which is put in front of him, and eating casually.

With his mouth full he carries on, spitting half chewed food with each word.

“So, why don’t you tell me why you are all here.

.. it wouldn’t have anything to do with me, would it?

” He finishes the food and stares around.

Major clears his throat and Ivar’s eyes snap to him. I want to take the heat away, draw his gaze to protect Major from the murder and hate darting around in the madness that is Ivar, but I can’t. Major would never let me. “A Summit was called, to discuss the borders of the clans.”

Ivar snorts, obviously smelling the bullshit, and his eyes flicker to me for a second, but it’s enough of a warning for me to shift in my seat, sliding sideways to protect Major as much as I can without looking obvious.

“Don’t lie to me ring maker,” he warns, his voice low and deadly.

I know he takes in my stance because a smile curves his lips, pulling up at the scarred side of his face.

“I know why you are gathered, you think you can overthrow me. You think you can start a war!” he screams the last, the spittle flying from his mouth and hitting me, but I don’t bother wiping it away, not daring to move in case he snaps.

“Can ya blame us, eh? You have lost it!” Nan shouts, leaning forward with a defiant look in her eyes. I freeze when Ivar lets out a chuckle. I know he will remember that and what Major said. He will make them pay and the thought chills me to my bones.

“I called it,” I say, sitting back in my chair, and when his eyes land on me I don’t even flinch.

“Oh, little pet, you don’t think I know that?

I have eyes and ears everywhere. It was so funny watching you run around and play hero, trying to save everyone, trying to convince these fucking cowards to join you.

What would you have done, eh? Marched up to my castle, demanded my head on a pike?

I don’t think so, you are still that broken little slave girl.

” Laughter starts from the Berserkers in the room.

“That’s where you are wrong,” I say, silencing the room. “I wouldn’t have asked for your head, I would have gotten it myself.” I smile, my mask clearly in place and his face wipes clean, nothing but anger there. Good, get mad, forget the insult Major and Nan threw your way. I can take it.

“Is that right, pet? Think you can take me? I think you would freeze, you would hesitate. You are still soft. Still weak.” He leans forward, spitting the words in my face.

I don’t lean away even as his hand darts out and grabs my chin, twisting and putting pressure painfully on it.

“You are nothing but what I want you to be, you’ve had your fun and now it’s time to come home.

Don’t make me kill them all to do it.” He warns, the truth in his eyes.

He would, he would kill every single person in the Waste to get to me.

“Why?” I ask, the question haunting me since I was little, I search his eyes for the answer, holding in my wince as he puts more pressure on my chin.

“You are mine and I wasn’t finished with you yet,” he says, like I am stupid for asking.

Looking into his face I debate his words. He really would start a war because of one slave, because he didn’t get to break me and kill me? He would really jeopardise everything for me? Yes, yes he would. He really is crazy, Major was right. He has lost it .